View Appendix A of the 2013 Handbook to preview changes since the 2012 publication release.
Because an ASC that is seeking a Medicare deemed status survey must be open and operational, CMS has advised us to revise our policies regarding the Early Option Survey/Initial Medicare Deemed Status Survey. These policy changes (underlined below) will apply to ASCs that submit an application for an Early Option Survey/Initial Medicare Deemed Status Survey on or after July 1, 2012.
The changes represent updates to policies found in the 2012 Accreditation Handbook Including Medicare Requirements for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), page 12:
Types of Surveys
The AAAHC’s early option survey (EOS) is for ASCs that are newly constructed, operational, and actively providing surgical procedures to adequately demonstrate compliance with AAAHC accreditation requirements including Medicare requirements. Some ASCs may require accreditation for third-party reimbursement, and a six-month wait for a survey would entail financial hardship; or they may have been providing services for less than six months and are seeking AAAHC accreditation and Medicare deemed status for the first time.
When an EOS is requested, the ASC must provide evidence of the following with its Application for Survey:
- The date the ASC is open and operational and actively providing surgical procedures to adequately demonstrate compliance with AAAHC accreditation requirements including Medicare requirements.
An EOS is conducted on an unannounced basis after the ASC has opened. A minimum of ten medical records must be available for review. The names of the surveyors are not disclosed prior to the survey. The surveyors will observe a surgical procedure during the survey.
The Accreditation Handbook Including Medicare Requirements for ASCs has been revised to clarify relationships between AAAHC Standards and CMS Conditions for Coverage. Replacement pages have been sent to individuals who purchased the print edition prior to August 2013. Revised electronic files (on CD or as a PDF, as originally ordered) have also been distributed.
For ease of reference, the changes are as follows:
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Page reference
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change
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ii
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Additions and corrections to list of Standards and Survey Procedures Committee members
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1
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Clarification that CMS Conditions supersede AAAHC Standards
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4
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Clarification that CMS Conditions supersede AAAHC Standards
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9
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Correction to reflect that AAAHC/Medicare Deemed Status surveys are unannounced
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23
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CMS Standard 416.50(c) supersedes AAAHC Standard 1.E
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24
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Clarification of AAAHC Standard 1.G.4 relative to CMS requirements
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26
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Clarification of AAAHC Standard 2.B relative to CMS requirements
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39
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Clarification of AAAHC Standard 4.I.1 and 4.I.2 relative to CMS requirements
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50
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Additional Standard added (7.I.H.1)*
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62
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CMS Standard 416.2 supersedes AAAHC Standard 9.S
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68
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Standard 10.I.AA moved from page 69
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69
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Additional Standards added (10.I.AC and 10.I.AD)*
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*These Standards had previously been provided as addenda on separate sheets, but are now incorporated in to the body of the Handbook on the appropriate pages.